The following statement was released on March 11, 2020 by Dr. Michael Boyle, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, President and CEO.
We take our responsibility to the CF community seriously. For the past few weeks, the CF Foundation has been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States, following guidance from the CDC and local health authorities, and consulting with CF experts to ensure we have the right plans and resources in place to safeguard your health and well-being and that of all people with CF.
Nothing is more important.
In cities where there has been the highest incidence of community spread of COVID-19, the Foundation has postponed local CF Foundation events and asked staff to work from home. To minimize unnecessary risk, we have suspended work-related travel for all CF Foundation staff, as well as in-person meetings with external parties in Foundation offices, encouraging virtual meetings whenever possible.
Out of an abundance of caution, we are now taking the extra measure of postponing or canceling all in-person CF Foundation events scheduled to occur between March 16 and April 12, regardless of location. With the COVID-19 situation evolving quickly, we believe we must act decisively in order to minimize risk for the CF community and do our part to slow the spread of this outbreak across local communities. We are monitoring this closely and will assess future events as the situation evolves, always putting health and safety first.
At this time, based on the CDC’s guidance for people who are at higher risk, we also recommend that people with CF not attend any large gathering and stay home as much as possible, though we recognize that decision is up to each individual.
We recognize that the facts about COVID-19 are still emerging, and that the uncertainty can be unsettling. We are committed to providing updates to you, your families, and our volunteers as new information is available. Please check cff.org frequently for the latest guidance for those at a higher risk for complications from COVID-19.
The Foundation is prepared to take all necessary steps to help safeguard the health of the CF community as we continue to focus on our mission.
We appreciate your continued support. Thank you for your patience and commitment as we respond to this evolving situation together.
Michael Boyle, M.D.
President and CEO